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E-cigs, support and advice: why vape shops are more than just vape shops

Posted
on July 27, 2018

Is a vape shop – or any outlet vending
e-cigs and e-liquids – just a vaping-goods store, or is it something more?
Could some even go as far as to be described as social hubs for those looking
to quit tobacco smoking and better control their nicotine addiction?

Well, a study published in February 2018
by the Cancer Research UK Tobacco Advisory Group has looked into the vape shop’s
role (particularly in people’s quests to quit smoking) and its conclusions suggest
that the humble vape shop is, indeed, much more than it says on the
tin – such outlets *are* playing a critical role in the fight against smoking.

Dispensaries
and social hubs?

To be precise, the study’s findings
highlight different features and services that distinguish vaping retailers
(whether you’re talking a vape shop
London or one located anywhere else in the country) from other kinds of
stores, noting that “[vape] shops offered opportunity to socialise and
reinforce a vaping identity” and that they “can provide effective behavioural
support to quitters to maintain smoking abstinence”.

The study also looks in a particularly
academic manner at the vape shop’s role for the e-cig community; describing it
as essentially acting as a semi-medical dispensary, one that dispenses not only
goods to aid people to quit smoking but also advice, assistance and a
sense of community – the latter being crucially important in encouraging vaper
to maintain their addiction management.

From the research involved and the
findings they were able to make, the study’s authors also noted that “the presence
of vape shops in these everyday environments normalised vaping for some
quitters, making it appear socially acceptable”.

Supportive
but too masculine?

Moreover, the study’s results underline
the fact that e-cigs and all their associated paraphernalia have helped open up
struggling smokers to health improvements and everyday money-savings, so much
so that “nearly every vaper interviewed commented on the reduced cost of vaping
compared to smoking as a key benefit”. Plus, the ability to engage in a ‘scene’
and easily seek out advice from vape shop staff (acting as pseudo-vape mentors)
drew comparisons in the study’s conclusions to how the likes of Apple’s
approachable and highly effective Genius Bar operates: “there were plenty of
instances where the shops gave support to customers who were having
difficulties. Several customers asked shop staff to change coils and there were
examples of hardware issues being investigated for free”.

But all that’s not to say that
everything’s perfect in ‘Vape Shop Land’. In the enlightened environment of
today when the ‘Me Too’ movement has rightly become a phenomenon, some of the
study’s subjects bemoaned how too many vape shops had chosen to give off an
atmosphere that suggested they were “masculine territories”. Indeed, one
subject suggested that “at this point the shop feels very much like a
traditional pub with men joking and discussing hardware and vaping”.

Clearly then, there’s still work to be
done for the vape shop to be all it can be – to be as inclusive as it might be
and to spread the word of vaping and aid in its attraction to not just male
(non-)smokers, but all and sundry. As such, the study concludes by saying vape
stores are a vital aspect of the e-cig scene because they offer “an important
‘expert by experience’ role in supporting smokers to quit.” And in spite some
of their number engendering an intimidating, ‘masculine’ atmosphere, which could
discourage medically-conscious and female smokers, many are all about doing the
exact opposite. That is, providing a sociable, approachable and invididual
experience that breeds inquiry and discussion and seeks to equip vapers and
would-be-non-smokers with devices that are best suited for what they want – and
what they need.

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Warning: Electronic Cigarettes products contain nicotine, a poisonous and addictive substance. Products and accessories are only intended for committed smokers of legal smoking age and not by non-smokers, children, women who are pregnant or may become pregnant or any person with an elevated risk of. If you experience any side effects or possible side effects, stop using the product immediately and consult a doctor. These products may be poisonous if orally ingested. This is not a smoking cessation product and has not been tested or guaranteed as such. Has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug. For their protection, please keep out of reach of children and pets. If you do suffer from the disease of Tobacco/Nicotine Dependence Syndrome and want to take steps to give up smoking or cut down the quantity of cigarettes you currently smoke, we recommend you visit your health authorities to discuss NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy) or a nicotine harm reduction programme.